Interview & giveaway with debut author Joan Swan

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome the wonderful Joan Swan to the blog today. I am SO EXCITED to share Joan and her debut novel Fever with my followers.

Author Bio:

Joan Swan is a triple RWA® Golden Heart finalist, and a double Kiss of Death Daphne Du Maurier finalist. She writes sexy romantic suspense with a paranormal twist, and her first novel, FEVER, debuts with Kensington Brava February 28, 2012. BLAZE releases October, 2012.

Currently, Joan works as a sonographer at a one of the top ten medical facilities in the nation, and lives in magnificent wine country on the central coast of California with her husband and two daughters.

Kelly : Can I get you anything before we get started? Coffee, tea, water?

Joan: Good God, I could use a Margarita. Midori. Blended. Brain-freeze thick. Sugar, no salt. Triple tequila. Por favor, bonita…or is it Bonita por favor?

Q1) Joan, your bio pretty much covers who you are. So tell us something off your bucket list.

Joan: I have to admit—I didn’t see The Bucket List, but the way I understand it is that is a list of things you want to do before you die. I’ve been so very blessed with a keeper of a husband for 21 years and two absolutely fabulous, intelligent, healthy daughters. My parents are still happily married and healthy well into their 80’s, my 3 sisters and 1 brother are all happily married with healthy children and my husband and I have been lucky to have had stable jobs that have paid most of the bills.

And because I know how fragile life is and how lucky we have been, what’s at the top of my bucket list at the moment? Quitting the day job so I can stop looking, touching and examining strange men’s mangled private parts. I mean, seriously? The fact that I can still write hot sex scenes after that sh…stuff is a testament to my warped mind!

Q2) Tell us about your typical writing day. Are there things you have to have?

Joan: The only thing routine about my writing these days involves breakfast at my neighborhood McDonald’s, email, Twitter, blog posts and lots and lots and lots of procrastination. It’s an unfortunate pattern I’ve developed over the past few months that I plan to change.

Maybe tomorrow.

Q3) Have you always wanted to be an author?

Joan: No. Just about every other profession under the sun. Never an author.

Q4)Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Joan: The authors I would consider favorites have changed as I’ve changed. Before I wrote, I wasn’t as demanding as I am now. I admire the writing skill of Dean Koontz, Sandra Brown, Harlan Coben, Tami Hoag and Ted Dekker. For decades I’ve loved Suzanne Brockman, Barbara Delinsky, Kat Martin, Joanne Ross, Cindy Gerard. I’ve more recently fallen in love with Darynda Jones and just discovered Robert Crais. My critique partner, Elisabeth Naughton, has inspired my writing with her strong story structure and amazing talent for world building.

Let’s talk about The Phoenix Rising Series:

Q5) Book one Fever will be coming out in February 28 2012. Tell us a little about this book

The overarching series plot broils around a government conspiracy after the explosion of a military warehouse injuries a team of seven hazmat firefighters, killing one. The contents of the building, extremely confidential and dangerous radioactive chemicals used by the Department of Defense in secretive scientific experiments, have inflicted the team with various paranormal abilities. Abilities the government wants to study covertly. Abilities the team wants to understand and expose. With military advancement and national power at risk on one side and personal health and freedom at stake on the other, each group is fighting for precious stakes.

FEVER is about one of the seven firefighters, Teague Creek, convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, framed by a government threatened by his prying questions into the warehouse explosion. Teague has been denied an appeal, lost the daughter he lived for, and the career as a firefighter he loved. With no hope left, he plans an escape. But his plan goes wrong when the woman he kidnaps as leverage to get his daughter back turns out to be someone else. And this woman quickly clues into the abilities he tries to hide, creating a bond neither can afford while they’re on the run from both the cops and undercover operatives who want Teague silenced. This time, permanently.

Q6) Book Two Blaze is scheduled for Fall 2012. Can you share with us anything about this book?

Joan: Blaze is rather special to me. I’m not sure why, but the main characters, Luke and Keira, just seemed to speak to me. Maybe because it’s a reunion story – I am such a sucker for those. Maybe because both Luke and Keira are tortured in so many ways, which is also a character element that pulls me in. I can also see advancement in my writing skills and storytelling abilities in this work which I’m proud of. Whatever the case, this story remains very vivid and close to my heart.

Blaze takes place several months after Fever concludes. While the immediate threat to Teague has been remedied for the time being, the team is clearly not out of danger. And when a member of the government’s team makes a bad decision and messes with the wrong team member in just the wrong way, all hell breaks loose. Again.

Blurb: When a simple child custody retrieval turns into a Waco-slash-Jonestown rerun in the remote Nevada desert, former firefighter turned ATF agent Luke Ransom is paired begrudgingly with his ex, Keira O’Shay, also a former firefighter but now one of the FBIs sharpshooters. Thrust into the depths of a conspiracy they’d suspected, but couldn’t prove, they uncover a deeper, darker force at work, one that is somehow linked to the destruction of their former firefighting team and the development of strange paranormal abilities every team member has struggled with since the mysterious warehouse fire five years before that changed their lives forever.

What neither Luke nor Keira have forgotten in their time apart, is that their paranormal abilities are enhanced by the power of their relationship. Keira’s clairaudience blossoms with empathetic qualities and even a touch of clairvoyance. Luke’s gifts come back full force and not only is he immune to burns, his skin is impenetrable, his bones unbreakable. Each utilize their powers toward the success of their mission, but don’t expect the bond their interconnected powers create in their relationship.

And when the shadow agency that has been tracking them decides they’re getting to close to the truth, repressed passions and unspoken regrets won’t be the only thing keeping Luke and Keira apart. Now, they’re in a race not only to save a child’s life, but to save each other’s as well.

Q7) Book 3 is Inferno. Can you share more about this book?

Joan: Inferno is my heartbreaker. The one firefighter killed in the original warehouse fire that started this whole nightmare, Quaid Legend, was the new husband of another firefighter on the team, Jessica Fury. Watching her husband die ripped Jessica’s life apart. She’s lived without him for five years when the team discovers proof of life in Blaze. Quaid has spent five years living in a cell, being tested like a rat. The governments experiments have wiped out his memory. He trusts no one. He remembers no one. Which of course causes heartache and huge conflict when the team, and Jessica, finally get him back.

Blurb:JESSICA FURY once had everything to live for. Now, she lives for one purpose: revenge.

Five years ago, Jessica witnessed the death of her newlywed husband, QUAID LEGEND, when their hazmat firefighting team stumbled upon an illegal chemical stash in a government warehouse set aflame. Since her recovery, Jessica has slowly pieced together a plan to implement payback, and she’s just one piece of information away from achieving that satisfaction when she receives the biggest shock of her life: Quaid may still be alive.

Recent events involving other members of her team in BLAZE turn up evidence that Quaid has been held as a prisoner in a secret military laboratory. Jessica utilizes her scrying abilities—using an item to view events at a distance or in the future—to help find and free Quaid from the custody of the shadow government agency, only to discover that all the experimental testing he’s undergone over the years has wiped his mind clean, and he has no memory of her.

Utilizing the clustered paranormal abilities they developed within Quaid, the government scientists have created a powerful weapon for the U.S. military. When his former firefighting team rescues him from the secure facility, the government goes on an all-out mission to retrieve what they consider an extremely valuable element to national security.

With their past shadowed and their future threatened, Jessica and Quaid face the ultimate battles of freedom–one for life, one for love.

One of your prizes

Q8) Do you see the Phoenix Rising Series going beyond these three books?

Joan: Absolutely. There are 7 original members of the hazmat team: Teague, Luke, Quaid, Kai, Seth, Keira and Jessica. In book one, FEVER, I introduce the heroine’s brother, Mitch, a smartass, headstrong, brilliant attorney. I definitely see Kai, Seth and Mitch having their own books. And who knows what other strong characters will popup within those stories demanding their own book as well. Of course, the government is endless fodder for the roll of villain.

Q9) How did you come up with the idea for the Phoenix Rising Series?

Joan: Here’s the short version:

The kernel of an idea for a straight romantic suspense came from working as a sonographer and scanning a large population of prisoners. “What if a hospital employee was taken as a hostage in an escape attempt?”

When the hero in that story turned out to be a fireman, I knew he’d have a team—firemen are never loners.

My critique partner, Elisabeth Naughton, suggested I make Teague’s team members future heroes in a series. At the time I’d only written stand alone single titles and couldn’t fathom writing a series.

After the manuscript was rejected by a dozen agents, Elisabeth suggested I add a paranormal element to tailor the book to the current market.

I rewrote the manuscript with the paranormal element, which also meant changing the plotline. And it sold. The Phoenix Rising Series was born.

Q10) What is next for you?

Joan: I’m pretty excited about what I’m working on now. It’s another paranormal, but ventures deeper into the genre, exploring witchcraft, demons and true evil. It’s complicated, dark, gritty and sexy. Very fun!

Q11) I love to know what authors are reading. What have you read recently or what new release are you most looking forward too?

Joan: I actually read quite a bit, but not in the traditional way. Since I work 4 hrs from where I live, I spend a lot of time listening to audiobooks. I always choose the unabridged versions and if I particularly love a book, I often buy the Kindle or print version as well.

I just finished my first Robert Crais book, The Watchman. Really, really loved it—the poetry and freshness of his prose, the pacing and tension, but especially the amazing character arcs. I recently went on a Karin Slaughter binge where I read her Will Trent series one after the other, I just couldn’t get enough. Another strong character driven suspense. I’ve also become an avid fan of Darynda Jones’ Charlie Davidson series and can’t wait for Third Grave Dead Ahead to release.

Q12) Is there anything else you would like to add?

Joan: Yes! I’m having a BIG give away to celebrate FEVER’s availability for preorder and I hope everyone will enter! I’m giving away a week’s stay at a 2br/2b condo in Lake Tahoe with a value of over $3000! All you need to enter is your name and email. No strings, no gimmicks! Escape & Enjoy Mega Giveaway: http://www.joanswan.com/escapeandenjoy.htm.

Books-n-Kisses: Joan, Thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy writing schedule to sit down and talk with me about your upcoming releases.

Joan: Thank YOU, Kelly! So glad we connected on twitter and can’t wait to meet you at the next conference! Thanks to all your readers who came out to chat with me today!

I've got FEVER for FEVER! Can't wait for the release or to get my hands on a copy with that luscious, hawt man on the cover. *grins* And firefighter? *swoon* Who doesn't love firefighters and those delish pants they wear?

I love finding new books and authors.. this will definitely be put on my TBR list. I can't wait for it to come out.My questions is… can I borrow that delicious hunk of man who is gracing your cover?? LOL.Thanks for the opportunity to win.

Oh Joan you are so not alone on the Procrastination. Me and three friends are queens of procrastination enough so my one friend, a fellow procrastinator bought me a shirt "Proncrastinator Unite!…. Tomorrow"

Hi Amber! Super appreciate you sharing!! And yes, Darynda is a fantastic author as well as an awesome person. I'm really looking forward to her third book in the series. I can't remember what she said she was working on next, but recently on a loop she said she was going underground because she had three books due three weeks apart. Brutal! But I'm glad to know I'll be looking forward to more of her work soon! I'm so selfish!

Hey Victoria! Thanks much! Glad you like the bookmarks. I try hard to make them high quality so they'll last a while. And thrilled you've liked the excerpts of FEVER – they're on my blog if anyone is intersted.

Amanda, Thanks so much! I love the bookmarks too. Fun to make and I'm loving that the readers love them too.

Grace, This is such a fun series to write. The group is like a family where everyone loves each other and would die for each other but is always in each other's business and doesn't hold back speaking their minds, so they're always razzing and sniping at each other. Total kick in the pants!

Excellent interview! The cover for Fever looks sooo yummy!! =) Joan is a new author for me so I'm glad I got a chance to learn more and hope to be able to get her books. =) Great giveaway and thanks for the chance to enter!

Thanks so much! I adore Fever because of course it's my first and I've rewritten it many times, including the entire second half to amp the tension and tighten the ending, so I'm very invested in my characters and their journey.

Blaze seemed to come more naturally. The pacing a race througout for different reasons, the characters didn't speak to me, they freaking sang to me. Just strange how different books latch onto you in different ways.

Thanks for coming out and thanks for taking an interest in Fever and Blaze!

These two, Quaid and Jessica, are both real heartbreakers. Both have been tortured in such painful ways — physically and emotionally. They go through a lot to bridge the gap in Quaid's memory and the years Jessica lived without him. But I make sure that their HEA is well worth the hardships they suffer.

Hi!I love the premise behond Fever and Blaze. Both books sound great.One concern: if I fall in love with Fever, do I really have to wait almost a year for Blaze?? Seems too long Can't wait for Fever!And maybe I'll win it!MJBmsmjb65 AT gmail DOT com

Great interview! Love Joan's answer to no. 1 about wanting to quit her day job. It's hilarious! I also love Sandra Brown. In fact, she's my favourite romance author since it was one of her novels that got me hooked on romances. Thanks for the giveaway:)

Wow!!! The Phoenix Rising Series sound fantastic. I love inter-connected stories. Firefighters and a government conspiracy, sounds like a series I'm going to love. Definitely going on the ever expanding wish list.